asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends amending the system whereby the husband must sign the children's allowance form permitting his wife to collect the monthly allowance; and if it is intended to entitle the wife to collect the allowance in her own right after the birth of the first child.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children's Allowances Form.
34.
Amendment of the children's allowances scheme on the lines suggested by the Deputy is not at present contemplated. I should, however, mention that statutory regulations have just been made which enable the Minister, where it appears to him that the circumstances so warrant, to appoint the wife, or any other person, to receive the allowances for the benefit of the children.
I am glad to hear that the Minister has passed certain regulations which will, under certain circumstances, allow the wife or representative thereof to collect the children's allowances. Does the Minister not agree that women, as a fundamental right in this nation of ours, should have the entitlement to collect their children's allowances? They should do so as full citzens of this nation.
The Deputy, particularly with his legal training, is aware that the father is, in law, recognised as the head of the house and is also, in law, responsible for the maintenance of the children. I accept what motivated the Deputy in putting down the question. He is concerned about certain cases which arise. It is only fair to say that in general the vast majority of the fathers live up to that responsibility and no problem arises between the husband and wife with regard to the children's allowances. With the new regulation which the Minister has made he now has power to deal with the problem where it arises.
I am very pleased with the assurance of the Parliamentary Secretary in this respect. I accept that the bulk of the nation's fathers discharge their responsibilities fully and that the Minister can now make regulations where the cases I have in mind can be taken care of, but is the Minister's interpretation of the various hardships flexible in this respect? How can one interpret "hardship cases"? What standards has the Minister got?
The Deputy will appreciate that cases of this nature have to be dealt with individually and examined individually and that the Minister must arrive at his decision as to which cases the regulations apply.
The reason I pursued it in this fashion is that I feel this should be placed on the record of this House for the information of the various people I am concerned about.
35.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of farmers of £50 PLV or over who are in receipt of children's allowances.
It is regretted that the information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department.